Burlington-based amputee enjoys Boxford's Call to Honor Triathlon

His story has been told on TV news and in the Boston and New York newspapers.

Mike Welsch just wants his story to be told to give hope to other amputees. There’s still life to be lived following the loss of a limb.

Joshua Boyd/Wicked Local Boxford

His story has been told on TV news and in the Boston and New York newspapers.

Mike Welsch just wants his story to be told to give hope to other amputees. There’s still life to be lived following the loss of a limb.

He brought his dedication and determination most recently to Boxford and the Rick Cashin Call to Honor Triathlon, held on Sept. 8 at Keith Koster Park at Stiles Pond.

“It was a really good race. I’d love to come back next year,” said the Burlington resident. “I’d love to put it on the list. It’s the perfect time of the season, the water’s still warm, you don’t need a wetsuit.”

Welsch has been an amputee for more than 30 years, having lost his leg in 1980 while a U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune. He hopes his story will help young people avoid the mistake that he made – climbing onto his motorcycle after having too much to drink.

“It was an alcohol-related motorcycle accident – alcohol and motorcycles do not mix, and it can be fatal. I was lucky,” Welsch said.

Since then, however, he has been determined to not let the loss of his leg keep him inactive. He was able to procure a Re-Flex VSP prosthesis for his missing right leg, the first prosthesis to include a shock absorber allowing for athletic activities.

Then, no test was too big for Welsch – he ran in 10 Boston Marathons, completing nine. This past April, he was stopped at the 18-mile marker due to the bombings at the finish line.

“I hope to do one more Boston so I can have 10 completed,” said Welsch. “I’m not sure I’m going to have anything left after that.”

He has also taken part in the Cape Cod Triathlon, the Connecticut Lakes in New Hampshire, the eight-mile Boston Lights Swim and he has also swam around New York City on the Hudson, East and Harlem Rivers (Manhattan Marathon Swim).

“To me, it’s like the most natural thing,” he said. “I’ve been working at it for 25 years.”

He credits Dr. John Harrisonburg at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital in Jamaica Plain for saving his life. His good (left) leg was in a cast for six years.

“I had multiple surgeries on that and it was saved,” said Welsch.

He heard about the Call to Honor Triathlon from his friend Jon Langton, a former English Channel and Manhattan Marathon Swim competitor. Langton is also a veteran who earned the Purple Heart after the Humvee he was in was destroyed in Iraq and he suffered injuries in that incident.

“I was very familiar with Stiles Pond – I swam it once this year and swam it three or four times last year. I swim from the public beach to the Boy Scout camp end,” said Welsch. “I think this triathlon is awesome. It’s small, it’s local.

“I had a good swim, and then a great bike – it’s nice countryside to ride in, just a beautiful course,” he said. “I like to run on dirt rather than asphalt, but it was good. You just had to watch out for potholes. I just didn’t want to finish last. I get in there and do my own race. I just want to finish and be healthy.”